Watch: Trump Tries To Destroy Credibility Of Reporter Who Filed Charges Against His Campaign Manager

During a rally Tuesday in Wisconsin, Donald Trump addressed the Michelle Fields controversy pertaining to allegations that his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, forcefully pulled her backwards.

“People [were] pushing left and right, left and right, and all of a sudden she [Fields] bolts into the picture. She grabs or hits me on the arm, in fact I’m like this with my arm up,” said Trump, describing the moment. “Then he [Lewandowski] goes by and maybe he touched her a little bit, but it was almost like he was trying to keep her off me.”

It is interesting to note that while Trump claims he put his arm up defensively, there never seems to be any substantial contact between him and Fields. In fact, when Trump puts his arm up, it seems he is casually reaching into his jacket for what appears to be a newspaper or magazine.

Trump reaches for magazine. Image Credit: Video Screenshot

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Some of his supporters also suggested that Lewandowski was attempting to help Fields so that she wouldn’t fall, although this is not apparent from the video.

Lewandowski makes contact with Fields. Image Credit: Video Screenshot

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Trump then read from Fields’ statement, challenging its authenticity. “‘I [Fields] was jolted backwards.’ Was she jolted backwards? I mean if she was, her face stayed the same. ‘I was jolted backwards, someone grabbed me tightly by the arm and yanked me down. Campaign managers aren’t supposed to forcefully throw reporters to the ground.’ Except, she never went to the ground, she never even came close.”

The contact between Fields and Lewandowski occurs at the 0:03 mark.

While it is true that Fields never fell to the ground, she actually never makes this claim. In fact, she says she was pulled down, perhaps meaning downward, and “almost fell.”

Here is the full statement: “Trump acknowledged (my) question, but before he could answer I was jolted backwards. Someone had grabbed me tightly by the arm and yanked me down. I almost fell to the ground, but was able to maintain my balance. Nonetheless, I was shaken… Campaign managers aren’t supposed to try to forcefully throw reporters to the ground, no matter the circumstance.”

Whether Trump purposefully omitted this part or simply did not have the complete statement is not clear.

While video evidence certainly does show Lewandowski grabbed Fields, it seems the debatable point is how hard she was pulled. It should be noted, however, that Florida statute describes simple battery as “actually and intentionally touching or striking another person against the will of the other.”

Even if the event seems minor to some, the resulting bruises on Fields’ arm as well as the intentional nature in which Lewandowski grabbed her means there is certainly a case to be made.

While some might claim Fields exaggerated events, others will also likely make the case that the Trump campaign did not honestly engage the issue.